Outreach
The Outreach Committee is a vibrant, active, and engaged ministry at St. Francis. Its work reflects the church’s mission to be “dedicated to the spiritual, physical, and social well-being of ourselves and our neighbors.”
Many thanks to the members of the Outreach Committee: Ruth Billings, Kathy DeSilvey, Sarah Everdell,
Anne Follweiler, Anne Gilchrist,
Marty Hamblen, Mary Hartley,
Prudy Heilner, Elizabeth LaStaiti, Maribeth Payne,
Chris Ramsay, Jane Reinoso, Judy Rountree,
Marshall Smith and Cathy Thompson.
Pictured above is our Sexton, Dick Doane who delivered 13 boxes of complete Thanksgiving dinners (turkeys and all the fixens and pie) to H.O.M.E. This is a much loved annual ministry
for St. Francis.
The Simmering Pot
Outreach has had an active role in the community recently. In February we became a part of the Simmering Pot crew which started as a soup-based meal at the Congregational Church and during Covid became a weekly delivery service. Although the Congregational Church has started up their in-person meals, Simmering Pot still delivers every Monday to over 150 people. Once a month, Brooke Dojny and Fred Heilner head up a team of eager choppers and ladlers to make a delicious vegetarian alternative soup. It’s a wonderful way to be a part of the greater community.
Magic Food Bus
For the past seven years we have given half of the Outreach budget to the Magic Food Bus which delivers vegetables and books to all towns on the Peninsula and Deer Isle. Last year they reached over 6,000 people. We also have given backpacks and school supplies to a small village in Ecuador through Jane Reinoso. She recently visited there and photos of her on her journey with lots of kids are posted downstairs in the church. Be sure to take a look.
Gardening Books for Students
We also just received a $1500 grant from the Brooklin Garden Club to purchase K-8th grade books on gardening, nature, conservation, and healthy eating. These will be distributed this summer by the Magic Food Bus to local students on the Peninsula and Deer Isle.
Hannaford Gift Card Program
We began an exciting new project last Christmas by purchasing 60 $25.00 Hannaford gift cards and gave them to Tracey Hair, Executive Director of H.O.M.E. These have been hugely successful. The gift cards have been distributed to people who need immediate access to food at H.O.M.E., the Emmaus Center, two warming centers, and the Recovery Center. As Tracey wrote, “Your cards each have a story”. We are hoping to replicate this program state-wide throughout the Diocese. But in the meantime, Tracey has only 13 cards remaining. We have been planning on doing this again at the end of the year but realize that there is a real need now since hunger is getting worse. If you are interested in donating to this fund, you may send checks to St. Francis Episcopal Church, attn: Kevin Hunt, with “Hannaford Cards” in the memo line. Thank you in advance.
We continue to be open to the needs of the community. Last year for instance, in addition to the Thanksgiving Baskets and the toys for children, we helped with a woman who was experiencing domestic abuse. We gave tents and sleeping bags to H.O.M.E for distribution. And we supported Peninsula Ambulance Corps, Community Compass, Volunteers for Hancock County Jail, Sedgwick School Backpack program, and the Free Medical Clinic. We also were able to provide funding for heating oil. This went way over our budget, and we could not have done any of this without the generous financial support from the members of St. Francis. Thank you.